Transportation Bill Funding for Streetscapes in Danger

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is leading House and Senate discussions on a comprehensive transportation bill that includes a provision for bike lanes, flowerbeds and other streetscape improvements. House Republicans may cut that provision (led by Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio) if bike/pedestrian advocates are unable to rally sufficient support.

Negotiations between the House and Senate over a federal transportation infrastructure bill are under renewed pressure from a looming June 30 deadline, which will mark the expiration of the latest in a string of extensions and stopgaps to prevent federally-funded construction from grinding to a halt.

House Republicans want to drop a proposal allocating gasoline taxes to help pay for transportation and streetscape "enhancements" like bicycle lanes, flowerbeds and other improvements. The Transportation Enhancement and Safe Routes to School programs that support walking and bicycling trails are top points of contention in these last-minute negotiations. Insiders say Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is under heavy pressure to make concessions to opponents of Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School.

Sen. Boxer, who is chairing the effort to reconcile House and Senate proposals, has expressed support for these programs, but has not stated definitively that they will be retained in the final bill. As with any bill, constituent support attracts congressional attention. Those who believe the bill needs to hold firm for dedicated funding for trails, walking and bicycling should contact their representatives in Washington.

House Speaker John Boehner has hinted at another six-month extension of the current bill (pushing expiration to the end of 2012) if the negotiation remains at loggerheads, a strong possibility given that the most contentious issues, like a mandate for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and deregulation of coal ash, have not been discussed yet. The Senate passed their version of a transportation bill in March, though it?EUR??,,????'???s two-year timetable could make that bill obsolete if negotiations continue.